Rob Russell

About Me

I am a psychologist registered with the Australian Health Professionals Registration Association and a fully accredited member of the Australian Psychological Society. I am a registered provider for Medicare, TAC, Workcover, Veterans Affairs and most private health insurance companies.

I operate a private practice and assist individuals and couples with a broad range of issues and psychological concerns.

I have 20 years experience as a psychologist. Aside from my private practice, I have worked in a range of contexts including Community Health Services, Relationships Australia, Drummond Street Relationship Centre, and was LifeWorks Counselling Team Leader & Headquarters branch manager.

I have specialised in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, emotion focused therapy, interpersonal therapies and relationship counselling for couples and individuals at various times over my career. I also have extensive experience and specialist training in anger management / behaviour change, grief and loss, men’s issues, trauma, self esteem, stress management, substance abuse, and sexual issues. I have studied existential and gestalt therapy and trained in narrative therapy and psychodrama. I supplement my main approaches with these as appropriate to match individual needs and inclination. I meditate daily and have an interest in Buddhist approaches to change.

Qualifications

Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology. LaTrobe University.

Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology. Monash University.

Bachelor’s Degree (Majors: Psychology & Sociology) Monash University

Level IV Certificate in Workplace Training. Swinburne University.

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Services

I provide counselling and psychotherapy for the following issues:

Anxiety

Depression

Stress management

Grief and loss

Intimacy

Anger and behaviour change

Conflict

Divorce and separation

Trauma recovery

Sex and sexuality concerns

Relationship issues

Identity issues

Self esteem

Work related difficulties

Addictive behaviours

Identifying one’s purpose and meaning in life

I am an approved Supervisor for the Psychology Board of Australia.

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How do I counsel?


I draw on my personal and professional training and experience to assist you to overcome or better manage your concerns in an interactive and collaborative manner. I ask questions and listen to get the clearest understanding of your goals and preferred approach to achieving them. If you are uncertain, I will discuss your circumstances, emotions and behaviour to best understand what is bothering you. Keeping your goals in mind, I will seek clues about what works best for you with a view to you taking up whatever you find useful, meaningful or of interest in bringing about the changes you seek. Change can result from what goes on within us, what happens around us and what we do. Where circumstances are out of your control we will look closer at what goes on within you with a management or adaptation perspective. Our first meeting is dedicated to getting background information, to give you an opportunity to decide whether you feel comfortable working with me and for me to gauge whether and how I can assist you. I will make a recommendation and we make a decision as to how to proceed. Personalities, circumstances and issues vary considerably so I keep an open mind as we tailor the counselling to you and your desired outcomes. I ask you to assess my suggestions yourself so that however we proceed is willingly for both of us.

I usually arrange to meet weekly or fortnightly. I take notes in most sessions to think over later and to better track developments. Much counselling is short term, gaining immediate relief from distressing problems and developing skills that you can use to improve your future life. However, a more in-depth exploration of issues, life and personality with a view to understanding deep seated patterns and far reaching growth from a practical, emotional, or existential perspective is desired. Counselling usually draws to a close through mutual agreement when a point is reached where your goals have been reached and you have achieved what you came for. Sometimes dramatic changes remove the need for counselling. I am happy to reconnect periodically when that seems best.

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Privacy

Confidentiality is assured as per the Federal Privacy Act 1988. My notes are kept locked at an undisclosed location. As a psychologist I am legally required to keep records for 5 years. If at any time you wish to see them you are welcome to.

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Fees

My session fee is currently set at $120 per session. I am a registered Medicare provider for those who are eligible for a Medicare rebate of $84.80 per session.

Appointments

Appointments run between 50 minutes to one hour including time to settle in and depart the room, arrange next appointment time(s), and make payments. The number of sessions will depend on your individual needs and interest. We will negotiate this together at our first meeting and periodically thereafter.

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Feedback

Getting ongoing feedback from you is a feature of my approach to counselling. Without feedback it is much more difficult for me to know how you are progressing, what works best for you and whether or not we are getting to the heart of the matter. The moment you feel that things are not going as you wish please let me know so that we can re-direct the process.

I find the therapeutic process works best when we feel empowered to follow our intuition, openly express our thoughts and feelings, and especially when we trust one another.

My rooms are at Suite 19, Carlton Clocktower, 255 Drummond Street, Carlton and you can contact me on 0416 117 861 to make an appointment.